Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, where Noise Important Areas (NIAs) have been identified in East Hampshire constituency; and what plans he has for updating the identification of NIAs.

Detailed strategic maps showing noise levels for road noise and rail sources, as well as Noise Important Areas (NIAs) and exposure data across England, are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/strategic-noise-mapping-2019. This data is searchable by location.

NIAs are currently defined as the areas where the 1% of the population affected by the highest noise levels from roads and railways are located according to the results of the strategic noise mapping. The noise maps and action plans published in July 2019 remain in place for five years. As we prepare for the next round of noise mapping and action planning, we intend to consider whether the metrics currently used to identify Important Areas could be improved.